| Arrests made in burglaries | | Posted: Thursday, May 3, 2012 9:14 pm
| By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Investigators with the Obion County Sheriff’s Department have made six felony arrests as part of an investigation into a rash of recent home burglaries around the west side of Obion County.
Five of the six who have been arrested are currently facing drug charges and are expected to be charged later in the burglary investigation, while the sixth person arrested earlier this week is facing burglary charges, according to Chief Deputy Kent Treece.
He told The Messenger early today Stephen Dwayne Poole, 37, of Hornbeak was taken into custody earlier this week as a result of the sheriff’s department’s investigation into a series of burglaries involving the theft of such items as a four-wheeler and tools.
Treece said Poole’s arrest is expected to solve about four of five burglary cases being investigated by the sheriff’s department. He is currently being held in the Obion County Law Enforcement Complex and was scheduled to be arraigned before General Sessions Judge Jimmy Smith at 1 p.m. today.
Treece also reported search warrants were served on two residences on Griffin Street in Samburg about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, both in connection with the recent string of burglaries.
Officers had to make forced entry into one of the residences and, once inside, discovered an active meth lab operation. The five individuals in the residence were taken into custody and the residence had to be cleaned and processed before deputies and investigators were able to properly search the property.
Arrested on the scene was Charles Dean Jr., 28, of Samburg; Tommy Dwayne Griffin, 31, of Samburg; Bennie Armstead Smith, 34, of Hornbeak; Hulen Leon Thompson, 42, of Samburg; and Sandra Jean Walley, 36, of Tiptonville.
Each of the five individuals has been charged with the initiation of methamphetamine manufacture process, promotion of methamphetamine manufacture and manufacture of methamphetamine a Schedule IV substance. Each of the three charges are felonies and Treece said more charges are pending in connection with the home burglaries, as well as arson charges since one of the residences burglarized was allegedly burned to hide the crime.
All five suspects are being held at the local jail and were scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. today.
Treece said “several items were located in the house related to the burglaries.”
“A large quantity of property has been discovered,” Treece said.
He explained investigators are still working on the cases and expect to file more charges through their investigation.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com. Published in The Messenger 5.03.12 | | | | |
